South African football legend Delron Buckley recently shared his admiration for compatriot Sibusiso Zuma, revealing the lasting impact the winger had at then Bundesliga side Arminia Bielefeld.
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Buckley, who played for several German clubs including Borussia Dortmund, VFL Bochum, Mainz 05, and Karlsruher, spent a brief but memorable period at Bielefeld from 2004 to 2005. Now serving as an ambassador for the club who are preparing to face Bayer Leverkusen in the German Pokal semi-final, Buckley took the opportunity in a recent media briefing to remind fans of Zuma's extraordinary influence during his time at the club.
Buckley fondly recalled the influence Zuma had when he joined Bielefeld at the age of 30, coming from Denmark. In his three years at the club, Zuma's skill and flair on the ball made an indelible mark on both fans and teammates.
"At the age of 30, because I think he came directly from Denmark, Zuma was unbelievable. You know, the way he played and took on defenders—he was skinning the defenders like there was no tomorrow. He was the talk of the town," Buckley said.
The legendary winger's performances were so impressive that Bielefeld fans created songs in his honour.
"I think there's even a song at Bielefeld which the fans used to sing for Zuma. Now that shows you the quality that he brought to Bielefeld. He just impressed every single one there."
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Buckley also spoke about the collective legacy of South African players at the club, including Zuma, Rowan Fernandez, and Siyabonga Nkosi.
"This African name is very big at Bielefeld because, like me, Zuma, Rowan Fernandez, Nkosi, we left a legacy there. The way we played was extraordinary. We were different," he said.
